Method for producing intermittent



Feb. 23, 1937.

W. W. WATROUS, JR

METHOD FOR PRODUCING INTERMITTENT EFFECTS AND SYSTEM THEREFOR FiledSept. 30, 1933 19 lbllllillllllllllll'! n1. n Mir/mus, m.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 LIETHOD FOR PRODUCINGINTERMITTENT- EFFECTS AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Ward W. Watrous, Jr.;Bloomfield, N. J assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Electrio and ManufacturingCompany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation oi Pennsylvania ApplicationSeptember 30, 1933, Serial No. 691,637

Claims. (Cl. .250-36) The invention relates to a new method and meansfor intermittently operating an external means. More particularly theinvention is directed to the operation of an external means whichrequires a relatively high potential for the operation thereof and whichoperation shall be at a relatively low frequency. One of the fieldswhere my invention finds especial application is that field of sign orother similar type of ilinitially operates the switch determines thetime interval between flashes and the time of discharging the condenserthat supplies the current in the primary of the transformer determinesthe length of time of each flash.

An object of my invention is to provide a new method of producingintermittent eifects.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new method ofintermittently flashing a light lumination where a gas-filled lamp isgenerally source.

employed and where the frequency of lighting A further object of myinvention is to p v desired is relatively low. i a new method ofintermittently flashing a light Warni signals, some advertising d thsource requiring a higher electrical potential for signs may be brieflycharacterized as flashing flashing the same than that provided by thesigns. This type of sign depends for its effect initial electricalenergy supply.

upon alternate flashing and extinguishing or a, A still further objectof my invention is to prosuitable light source, which upon illumination,vide a new electrical system for producing inmay be of any desired-colorcharacteristic. The t tt nt fects. length of time that the light sourceis flashed and Another Object o my inven o to provide the intervalbetween flashes are not the same 7 a simple and eflioient l i l y m f rnin all flelds, but in each instance depend upon m tte tly flashing a lt source. the particular functions or the flashing. In some A u h objectof my v ti n is t p vid beacons for example, the time 01' flashingaswell an easily constructed and rugged apparatus which as the timeinterval between flashes may be relay e a a directly to a low voltageptively short, whereas in some advertising signs p y source forintermittently f ashin a hi the time of the flashing may be relativelylong Voltage light sourceand the time interval between flashes may be Astill further Object of my inv n i D relatively short, vide a ruggedsystem containing no essential My invention may be used in any one ofthese mOVihE p but which may n in m vin diflerent fields. It also findsutility in other p rts merely for variation p rpo f r in erflelds whichI have not mentioned because they mittehtly flashing li Source at aPotential suggest themselves and light flashing appears to higher h theini potential ppliedbe satisfactory for illustrating my invention.Another Object Of y invention is to P vi e In addition a light flashingcircuit is that with a. system for intermittently flashing a light which1 am particularly concerned, and especialsource, with the frequency ofdischarge in the ly light flashing wh r hi h potential is r lamp beingindependent of the frequency of the quired. My invention, however, isnot limited to input ent pp high potential flashing or to gas filledtubes, they A further object of my invention is to provide merely servet (nearly t te my invention an intermittent flashing system which isstable Briefly t t d my invention is directed t a in operation andconsumes only a small amount system a d th which includes charging a ofcurrent so that it is. practical to employ batplurality of condensers.When one of said con- T195 as the source 0! electrical ydensers hasattained a predetermined charge, it other Objects d a v il my ven oninitially operates a switching means which allows will be readily pp ntfr m the following dethe other condenser to discharge. The dischargescription d a wherein current of the second condenser passes throughFigure 1 r p s nts a n v uit d a am the primary of a transformer and theelectrical embodying my nv n; energy i transformed so that th r t in tFigure 2 represents another novel circuit diasecondary oi thetransformer is lowerthan that m m dyi y invention and is a modifi- 60.in the prflnary and the voltage germs the seccation Of the circuitillustrated in Figure 1.

ondary is high r tha th t across th pr1mary One aspect of my inventionis the novel cir The electrical energy in the secondary is em- 0111balflmlemeht illustrated in u e 1- The played to operate any-desiredmechanism such invention comprises an pu circuit consisting as a lamp,depending upon what is desired, Th of a plurality oi batteries Illconnected in series, ll length of time for charging the condenser that avariable condenser II and a variable resistance l2 all in electricalseries relationship. Instead of the train of batteries, I may employ adirect current derived directly from a direct current generator or. byrectifying alternating current. However, because the amount of currentrequired from the source of electrical energy is relatively low, I havefound that it is possible to employ batteries.

A conductor l3 has one end thereof connected to one side of thecondenser H and its other end connected to the end positive terminal ofthe train of batteries. A conductor l4 has one end connected to anegative terminal of said train of batteries and its other end connectedto one side of the resistance |2. The other end of the resistance I2 isnot permanently connected to any conductor, but a movable contact I5 isadapt ed to slide over said resistance. The contact I5 is connected toone end of a conductor I6 and the other side of said condenser II isconnected to the other side of said conductor. The ohmic value of saidresistance |2 depends upon the voltage between said-positive andnegativeterminals of said train of batteries as well as the rate at which it isdesired to charge the condenser II. The resistance l2 has the additionalfunctions of preventing excessive current drain from the batteries andalso permitting the potential of the condenser to' fall when thecondenser is discharged.

Cooperating with said input circuit is a discharge circuit including thecondenser l as one of the elements thereof; The discharge circuitcomprises the condenser H, a switch I! and a primary winding l8 0! atransformer I9 all in electrical series relationship. Although amechanical switching means or some other type of electrical switchingmeans may be employed in the discharge circuit,some of which may readilysuggest themselves, I employ a tube compris ing an anode 20, a cathode2| and a starting tip 22 all located within an envelope containing asuitable quantity of a rare gas. The tube may the anode 20 and thecathode 2| is decreased so that the predetermined potential appliedtherebetween is suilicient to cause a discharge therebetween. Thus thetube embodies an anode 26 and starting tip 22 which act as an initiatoror trigger for the switch so that the main switching may be accomplishedby a discharge between the anode 29 and the cathode 2|.

A conductor 23 has one end connected to the anode 20 and its other endto that side of the condenser connected to the end positive plate of thetrain of batteries In. ,A conductor 24 has one end connected to theother side of said condenser and its otherend connected to one end ofthe primary l8 0! the transformer I9. A conductor 26 has one endconnected to-the other end or the primary i8 and its other end to thecathode 2|.

In order that the trigger comprising the anode 20 and the starting tip22 may operate so that the main switching between the anode 20 and thecathode 2| may take place, I provide a trigger circuit including theswitch l1, anda'variable condenser 26 in electrical series relationship.A conductor 21 has one end connected to the anode 20 and its other endto the condenser 26. A conductor 28 has one end connected to the otherside of the condenser 26 andits other end to the starting tip 22.

The condenser 26 is an element of a charging circuit including theentire train of batteries in, the condenser 26 and a variable resistance29 allin electrical series relationship. One side of the condenser 26 isconnected to the end positive plate of the train of batteries Iiithrough the conductors I3, 23, and 21. The other side of the condenseris connected to one end of the variable resistance 29 by a conductor 30.A conductor 3| has one end connected to the end negative terminal of thetrain of batteries l0 and its other terminal to the movable contact 34of the resistance 25).

A secondary 32 is employed in the transformer i9 which iselectromagnetically coupled with the primary winding it for transformingthe electrical energy in the discharge circuit when current flowstherethrough. The ratio of the number of turns in the primary to thenumber of turns in the secondary of the transformer depends upon thevoltage required at the terminals of the secondary, across which isapplied a load as for example, a gas filled lamp requiring a thousand ormore volts to operate the same. I find that in operating a gas-filledlamp with cold electrodes better results are obtained by employing avariable condenser 33 set at appropriate capacity across the terminalsof the primary winding l8.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in- Figure 1 is as follows:Electrical energy is supplied to the condenser H by the batteries Illthrough the variable resistance I2. The variable resistance does serveto some extent to determine the time required to fully charge thecondenser However, although this function is of major importance otherprimary functions oi. the resistance i2 are to prevent excessive currentdrainvfrom the batteries and to permit the potentialto fall sufficientlywhen the condenser II is discharged. When the condenser H-is fullycharged,

the potential between the anode 29 and the oath-- ode 2| of the switchHis insuiiicient to cause a discharge therebetween. charging at the sametime that condenser H is charging. The condenser 26 is charged by thetrain of batteries l0 through the resistance 29. The resistance 29, likethe resistance |2, prevents excessive drain from the batteries iii. Theresistance 29 also determines the time of charging of the condenser 26.When the condenser 26 has attained a predetermined charge, the potentialbetween the anode 20 and the starting tip 22 is sufdcient to cause adischarge therebetween.

' The resistance 29 and the capacity of the condenser 26 are so chosenthat the condenser II is fully charged before the condenser 26 hasacquired a potential sufficient to cause a discharge between the anode20 and starting tip 22. When the discharge occurs between the anode 20and starting tip 22, the gas within the tube i1 is ion ized so that theresistance between the anode,

andthe primary winding l8 oithe discharge cir- The condenser 26 is.

cuit. The electrical energy through the primary winding I6 istransformed so that the potential between the terminals of the secondary22 may be a thousand volts or. more to operate a load, as for example, acold electrode gas filled lamp.

Discharge between the anode 26 and starting tip 22 is maintained for aperiod of and until the extinction voltage between these two electrodesis reached upon discharge of the condenser 26. The resistance 29-permitsthe potential between these electrodes to fall to a value equal until atime period after discharge between anode ,when the charge from thecondenser II is dissipated to the extent that the extinction voltage ofthe tube is reached, the lamp discharge terminates and there is aninterval of time during which there is no discharge in the lamp or anycurrent flow in the discharge circuit.

During this time the condensers l and 26 are again being charged. Again,when the condenser 26 reaches a predetermined charge, discharge isinitiated in the switch l1 which discharge allows a discharge of thecondenser II in the discharge circuit.

When the condenser II has been discharged the potential between theanode 20 and the oathode 2| has been considerably reduced so that it isnot high enough to maintain a discharge therebetween. The discharge is,therefore, ended and in order that it may not always have a potentialgreater than the extinction potential and so that the discharge may notbe continuous the resistance I2 is provided to limit the rate ofcharging. The resistances I2 and 29 are so chosen that the rate ofcharging the condenser II is greater than the rate 01 chargingthecondenser 26, but the rate of charging the condenser 26 is not sohigh that once the discharge is started between the anode 20 and cathode2|, it will be maintained continuously. Since the discharges between theanode 20 and cathode 2| are for limited times only, it is evident thatthe time required to charge the condenser 26 to a predeterminedpotential is at least as great and preferably greater than the timerequired to fully charge the condenser The discharge of the condenserdepends upon the trigger action caused by the discharge of the condenser26 and the time interval between discharges of the condenser II dependsupon the time required to charge the condenser 26.

The system illustrated in Figure 2 is essentially the same as thatillustrated in Figure 1. Instead of employing the switch I! shown inFigure 1, there is employed a switch 40 comprising a main anode 4|, acathode 42 and a starting anode 43. The switch is the same as thatdescribed in the United StatesPatent 1,871,279 issued to Harvey C.Rentschler, August 9, 1932. The anode 4| and cathode 42, and thestarting anode 43 are connected respectively to the conductors 26, 23and 26.

The end positive terminal, a positive terminal and the end negativeterminal oi the train of batteries III are connected respectively to theconductors 3|, I4 and I8. In this system disanode 48 and the cathode 42whereupon the condenser discharges between the main anode 4| and cathode42.

Thus it is apparent that both of my novel systems may be employed wherelight flashes are to be produced at intervals, which intervals betweenflashes are determined by the capacity of the condenser 26 and theresistance 29.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and is to belimited only by the prior art and not by the exact system shown anddescribed.

What is claimed:

l. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent eflects comprising acondenser and means connected thereto for accumulating an electricalcharge therein 01! a predetermined value, a gaseous conduction devicehaving a plurality of electrodes therein, two of said electrodes beingconnected to said condenser and having such a space relationship thatwhen the charge in the condenser reaches the said predetermined value adischarge is initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseousconduction device, a

second condenser, means for accumulating a' greater charge in saidsecond condenser than in said first condenser, one of said firstmentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseousconduction device being connected to said secondcondenser, said lastmentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that theaccumulated charge in said second condenser is insuflicient to produce adischarge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when nodischarge occurs between said first two electrodes but sufiicient toproduce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place betweensaid first two electrodes.

2. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent effects comprising acondenser and means connected thereto for accumulating an electricalcharge therein of a predetermined value, means for varying the rate ofcharging of said condenser, a gaseous conduction devicehaving aplurality of electrodes therein, two of said electrodes being connectedto said condenser and having such a space relationship that when thecharge in the condenser reaches the said predetermined value a dischargeis initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseous conductiondevice, a second condenser, means for accumulating a greater charge insaid second condenser than in said first condenser, one of said firstmentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseousconduction device being connected to said second condenser, said lastmentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that theaccumulated charge in said second condenser is insufilcient to produce adischarge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when nodischarge occurs between said first two electrodes but suiilcient toproduce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place betweensaid 7 charge is first initiated between the starting value a dischargeis initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseous conductiondevice, a second condenser, means for accumulating a greater charge insaid second condenser than'in said first condenser, means for varyingthe rate of charging said second condenser, one of 'said first mentionedelectrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction devicebeing connected to said second condenser, said last mentioned electrodeshaving such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in saidsecond condenser, is insuflicient to produce a discharge therebetween insaid gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between saidfirst two electrodes but ,sumcient to produce a discharge therebetweenwhen a discharge takes place between said first two electrodes.

4. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent effects comprising acondenser and means connected thereto for accumulating an electricalcharge therein of a predetermined value, a gaseous conduction devicehaving a plurality of electrodes therein, two of said electrodes beingconnected to said condenser and having such a space relationship thatwhen the charge in the condenser reaches the said predetermined value adischarge is initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseousconduction device, a second condenser, means for accumulating a greatercharge in said second condenser than in said first condenser, means forvarying the rate of charging said second condenser, one of said firstmentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseousconduction device being connected to said second condenser, saidlastmentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that theaccumulated charge in said second condenser is insufilcient to produce adischarge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when nodischarge occurs between said first two electrodes but sufficient toproduce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place betweensaid first two electrodes.

5. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent effects comprising acondenser, a battery that when said condenser is charged to thepredetermined potential a discharge in said gaseous conduction device isinitiated between said certain electrodes; a second condenser connectedto said battery for accumulating a greater charge in said secondcondenser than in said first condenser, one of said first mentionedelectrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction devicebeing connected to said second condenser, said last mentioned electrodeshaving such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in saidsecond condenser is insufilc'ient to produce a discharge therebetween insaid gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between saidfirst two electrodes but sufilcient to produce such a dischargetherebetween when a discharge

